Senate Approves Amendment Ordering OMB to Streamline Programs

Senate Amendment 273, which orders the Office of Management and Budget to consolidate unnecessary duplicative and overlapping government programs was passed by a vote of 64-36. The legislation follows on from a GAO report to Congress entitled “Opportunities to Reduce Potential Duplication in Government Programs, Save Tax Dollars, and Enhance Revenue” (GAO-11-318SP) and applies the savings towards deficit reduction; it is estimated that the actions by the OMB will save taxpayers at least $5 billion annually.

Thad Cochran (MS) was the only Republican voting against the measure, while 16 Democrats joined the Republicans in support of the bill.